A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Aloara
ALOARA, an Italian Princess. Died 992.
Daughter of a count named Peter, of whom history makes no other mention, than that he was her father. She was married to Pandulph, surnamed Ironhead, who stiled himself prince, duke, and marquis. He was, in reality, prince of Capua and Benevento, by inheritance; and the emperor Otho II. created him duke of Spoleto, and marquis Camerino, which rendered him the most potent prince then in Italy. He died at Capua, in 981, leaving five sons by Aloara; Landulph IV. prince of Capua and Benevento; Pandulph, prince of Salerno; Atenulph, entitled count, and also marquis, perhaps of Camerino; Landenulph, prince of Capua; and Laidulph, who succeeded him.
Landulph IV. perished in battle, fighting for the emperor, in 982, against the Greeks and Saracens. His brother Landenulph succeeded him; but, being very young, Otho, in investing him with the principality of Capua, desired Aloara might govern during her life conjointly with him. This decree was also confirmed by Theophania, widow of Otho, and regent, during the minority of Otho III. Aloara began to reign in 982. History relates no particular actions of this princess; but says she governed with much wisdom and courage.
Landenulph was assassinated by a plot of his own relations, in 993; and his brother Laidulph, who succeeded, was deposed by the emperor Otho III, in 999, for having a hand in the death of his brother.
It is reported, by an old historian in the life of St. Nil, that Aloara put to death a nephew, lest he should wrest the principality from her son; and, that St. Nil then predicted the failure of her posterity.